Police arrest two teenagers in killing of Highlandtown woman

Allen Pinkney (left) and Alonzo Gorham-Ramos (right) were both charged with first degree murder in the death of Kimberly Leto.

Allen Pinkney (left) and Alonzo Gorham-Ramos (right) were both charged with first degree murder in the death of Kimberly Leto. (Baltimore City Police Department)

Colin Campbell, The Baltimore Sun

Baltimore Police arrested two teenagers Sunday in the beating death of a 51-year-old Highlandtown woman who was found dead inside her home Friday.

Commissioner Anthony W. Batts held a news conference at police headquarters to announce the arrests of Alonzo Gorham-Ramos, 14, and Allen Pinkney, 16.

Kimberly Leto, of the 400 block of S. Ellwood Ave., was found dead inside her home overlooking Patterson Park early Friday with what police described as "upper body trauma." A neighbor said she was told by police the home had been broken into from the rear, and a chair could be observed pushed under the rear kitchen window, which was half-open.

Police said they believe that Gorham-Ramos and Pinkney killed Leto in a robbery gone wrong. Change, electronics and small personal items were taken from the house, police said.

Batts called the killing "unconscionable" and expressed regret that the crime will result in three lives being thrown away — not only Leto's, but also those of the two teenagers.

"It is unacceptable to see family after family ripped apart by such petty behavior," he said. "This is a heartbreaking tragedy on so many levels."

Investigators said they were able to quickly identify Gorham-Ramos and Pinkney as suspects because Gorham-Ramos had been charged with burglarizing Leto's house before.

Police confirmed Pinkney's mother works for the department as a dispatcher.

Leto was well-known to patrons as a bartender at O'Donnell's Pub in Canton. Another bartender working there Sunday before the Super Bowl said the staff at O'Donnell's was still trying to cope with news of their colleague's death.

"It's still tender," she said.

City Councilman James B. Kraft, who represents Highlandtown, said he had requested additional officers, including on foot patrol, in the neighborhood before Christmas and again this year.

He said the mayor's administration and police commanders told him the department is too understaffed for the requests to be fulfilled.

"I don't have a gun. I don't have a badge," he said. "I can't stand on every corner. All I can do is try to get [police officers] where they could be and try to get more of them."

An earlier version of this story had the incorrect ages for the suspects.